wadsworth



Dec 3, 1929- F. 1 o. WADSWQRTH ,738,087

WATER HEATER `CC I\S'IRUCI'ION @Ta #wwwa/7.

Dec 3, i929- F. L.. o. WADSWORTH WATER HEATER CONSTRUCTION Filed May 7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

INVENTOFI F. I... O. WADSWOR"E"H Dea. 3, l 92 Si WATER HEATER CONS TRUCTION Filed May '7 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `'WJATE'Bi-I'IEATE13, CONSTRUCTION Applicationled May 7, 1,923. Serial No. 637,037.

My invention relates to vimprovements in Waterheater construction, and has for one of its objects, the'provision of means for automatically controlling the movements of a fuel valve by energy which is stored uprin a spring or `Weight Whenever Water flows through the heater, and Which is intermittently released to move the fuel valve in one direction or the other Whenever the temperature of the liquid in the heater-d Whether it maybe in motion or at rest-rises above or falls below a certain point. My invention is thus broadly applicable to either storage tank heaters or to the so called instantaneous heaters; and one ofthe great advantages of this invention, when applied to either type of heater, is that the storage of the energy which aetuates the fuel valve may be so controlled and regulated that it will be available for the actuation of this valve only for agiven predetermined time ;*that is to say, the storing up of the energy by the flow of Watermay be so regulated that the fuel valve will -be` moved, under the thermostatic control, only While the Water is flowing through the heater; or it may be so regulated that the actuation of thejfuelV valve-'always under thermostatic eontrol-'-Wi ll continue for a given predetermined length of time, or for 3o a given predetermined number of valve mo`ve` ments, after the flow of Water has been shut off, andWill then cease until the flow of tvater is again started. lhleretofore` all automatic controls for storage tank heaters have, as far 5 as l know,I been of such a character that they continue to act indefinitely,^ inA inter-'mit` tently turning on and turning olf the fuel supply to the main burners as long as any Water remains in the heater; and, ivith the eX# ception of the automatic control described in my Patent No. 1,131,020 of March 9th, 1915, these controls have also been ofsuch a character that the'ifuel valve would yremain open after all liquid had been Withdrawn from the heat-ing receptacle. `In consequence of the first named characteristic of the conventional control systems, the consumption of fuel will continue ,indefinitely Whether any Water is being Withdrawn from the storage tank syso tem or not. "My invention overcomesr'this sometimes disadvantageous characteristic, and provides means whereby, after a 'certain length of time` has elaspedwithout the WithdraWal of any Water,thefuel supply is automatically and'finally cut olf until the heater is once more placed in operationby the Withdrawal of a fresh supply of liquid. This eliminates the danger and" expense which may result from an owner orattendant failing to shut off the gas supplyto the heating system Whenvhe leavesthe premisesfor a considerable length of time', or, for any reason, fails to use hot Water for a considerable interval. It also makes itpossible to eliminate the danger of burning out the heater coils by keeping the gas turned on tothe main burners after all Water has been Withdrawn from them.- Other advantages `of my improvements will appear from the'description 'of the various forms of apparatus which are illustrated herein as dilferent embodiments of my invention. i

lIn the drawings, which form a part of this disclosure, Fig. l is a side elevation of a storage tank heater With one of my improved control mechanisms applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of this control mechanism; 3 is a vertical cross section on the broken plane 3-3 oflig.` 2; Fig. 4 is a front, or end,elevation of an alternative construction that may be used in place of that shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the plane 5--5 of Fig. 4 ;y Fig.` G is a partially sectioned elevation of a` third form of my improved control mechanism that is particularly applicable to an instantaneous type of hot waterheater such as is shown, for

example, in Fig.` 8; Fig. 7 is a horizontal plan vievvwpartially cross sectioned on the plane' 7-7 of Fig. 6-of this third form of control mechanism; Fig; 8 is an elevati-on of an instantaneous hot Water heater with the special form of control mechanism Which is shown in Figs.` 6 and 7 applied thereto; Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate detail modifications of parts of theconstruction shown in' Figs. 6 and 7; and Fig.` 11 is a side view partiallyin section of a fourth exemplification of my improvements as applied to the storage tank heater shown in Fig. 1.

by the outflow and 3-the boXfM is s seat-ed valve 1 that is interposed in In the arrangement shown in the first iigure of my drawings, the storage tank A is connected with the cold water supply main by the inlet pipe B and is coupled to the heater D by means ofthe usual circulation pipes and fittings N-`-G, FO-P. The heater D is supplied with gas through the conduit H, the valve boX'M, and the connections t-I, that lead from the latter to the pilot light and to the main burners of the heater; and the iiow of fuel to the latter is governed by anautomatic control mechanism which is mounted at the left hand end of the tank A and which is primarily actuated-'or rather energizedof water through the house service pipe C. j

In the form of control mechanism depicted in Fig. 1-and illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 provided with a. gravity the path of flow from the conduit H to the main burner supply pipe I. The valve 1 is mounted looselyv on a stem 2, which is provided at its lower endwith a nut 4 engaging with the lower side of the valve, and which is shouldered to receiveV a collar 6 on the upper side of the valveg-aspring 3 being interposed between said collar 6 and said valve 1. The stem2 passes up through an opening in the 9, of the gas valve casing M, and terminates in al fork V10 to which is pivoted the lower end of a link 11. The upper end of this flink is journaled on a crank pin 12 secured to a disc 13; and this disc 13 is mounted ona short shaft 14 carried in a box 15 and prol Vvided at its opposite h A; and the upper end of f1 :opening in the-weight 22 and bar 24 end with a ratchet wheel 16. A second shaft 17 is mounted in line with the shaft 14, in a bOX 18, and' carries at its end, adjacent to the ratchet wheel 16, a small pinion 19 and a pawl disc 20, the latter beingprovided with a pawl 21 which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 16. 22 a lead or brass weight which slides freelyin vva tube 23, and is provided with a downwardly extending bar 24, terminating at its lower end in a rack A25, the teeth of which engage with the spur pinion 19. Above this weight 22, the tube 23 which guides it, is placed a water: cylinder 26 which contains a piston member- 27., The lower end of this water cylinder is in communication through ports I23 with the pipe 29 leading into the tank the cylinder is in communication through a port with the pipe-C, which leads to the 'house supply system, and through which all water is normally withdraw from the tank. The piston 27 is provided .with a stem 32 which passes down through a' transvers anc terminates at its lower extremity in a crosshead 33, that projects through slots., in the sidesof the tube 23 and is engaged, at its ends, bythe springs, 57-57. A plate 34, surrounding the stem 32, is secured to the upper side of the weight 22, and serves as an abutting member whereby the parts 22, 24 and 25 can be raised by the upward movement of the connected elements 27-32-33. The piston 27 is provided at its center with ports 35, and above these ports is placed a check valve 36 which is held in engagement with its seat by means of a spring 37.

The disc 13 which carries the crank pin 12 is notched at one point in its edge, as at 40, to enga-ge with the head of a trip lever 41, that is pivoted at 42, and carries at its upper end an adjustable screw 43 adapted to engage with a stud 44 in the end of the thermostat member 45. On the opposite side of the disc 13 is a second trip lever 46 provided with a `dog or pawl point 47, which is positioned one hundred and eighty degrees distant from the pawl point of the lever 41 g`this second trip lever 46 being pivoted at 48 and terminating at its upper end in a boss 49 adapted to engage with a. second adjustable screw 50 carried by a fork 51 on the end of the thermostat member 45. The two trip levers 41 and 46 are subjected to the tension of a common spring 52, which serves to hold the two pawl ends in contact engagement with the face of the disc 13. The member 45 is in the form of a tube, preferably composed of iron, nickel steel, invar metal, or some other material having a very low coeihcient of expansion. and constitutes the negative element of a thermostat L of the ordinary construction, with an outer tube 53 of copper, zinc or some other metal having a high coeiicient of exweight 22-if that weight is below the position shown in the figure. This upward move` ment of the piston 27 will continue until the upwardly projecting stem of the valve 36 strikes the end of the adjustable screw 55. thus opening said valve and allowing the water from the tank A to flow freely through the ports 35 on into the discharge pipe C. Then the flow of water is stopped the pressure on the two sides of the piston 27 will be at once equalized-through the small port 56`and the piston will be returned to its lowest position by the springs 57 which act on the projecting ends of the cross bar 33. When the weight 22 and its attached parts are moved upward the pinion 19 and pawl disc 20 will be revolved backward, or in a clockwise direction, past the teeth of the ratchet wheel 16 and when this upward motion ceases the Weight is prevented from fallinghy the engagement of the pawl 21 with ano'ppos ing tooth of said ratchet wheel 16 ;-th`e latter being prevented from revolving by the contact of the end of trip lever 41 with the notch 40. This engagement prevents any movement of the crank disc 13-and consequently any movement of the gas valve connected thereto-until the temperature of the liquid in the tank A has been reduced, by the outflow of the hot water, and the resultant inflow f cold water, to a point where the contraction of the thermostat bringsthe stud 44 into contact with the screw 43 and thereby disengages f the pawl end of the lever 41 from the notch 40. lWhen this occurs, the crank disc 13 will be revolved by the downward thrust of the weight 22 acting upon the rack bar 25 and the pinion 19 in engagement therewith. As

.. the disc 13 revolvesit lifts the gas valve 1 from its seat, and allows the fuel to flow from the pipe l-I to the pipe I. The disc 13 will revolve through one-half a revolution, and the notch will then engage with the pawl end 47 of the trip lever 46, thereby stopping the movement of the crank disc 13 and holding the valve 1 in the opened position. The valve 1 will remain in this position until the rise in temperature in the tank A has expanded the thermostat member 53 sufficiently to bring the screw into engagement with the short end of the trip lever 46, vand disengage the pawl 47 from the notch 40. The crank disc 13 will thereupon be revolved through another one-half revolution by the' downward thrust of the weight 22--aided by the effect of gravity on the suspended parts 1, 2, 4, 6,

v10 and ll-thereby closing the valve 1 and shutting off theiow of fuel "to the main burners, of the heater. The complete closing `of the fuel valve is always insured by the provision of the loose collar and spring connec tion` 6 and 8, between the stem 2 and the valve head 1 ;-the parts being so adjustedl that the said head l reaches itsseat before the crank disc 13 has fully completed its half revolution. This same collar 6, bycoming in Contact with the washerion the under side of the cap 9, seals the opening around the stem 2 when the valve is lifted away from its seat, thus preventing any leakage of gas around said stem at that time.

The successive opening and closing movements of the fuel valve will continue as the temperature of the liquid in the tank A falls and rises above predetermined points-which may be varied by adjustment 'of the screws 43 and 50-as l'ong as the weight 22 continues to exert a rotative force on the pinion 19. The rack bar 25 is made of such length, and the screw 55 is'so adjustedthat the movement of the weight 22 from the highest point to which it is lifted by the piston' 27 (as determined hy the adjustment of the screw 55) to the lowest point (as determined by the engagement ofthe `lower end of the rack bar 25 tion and with the weight at the highest point of its travel, the last movement of the crank disc 13 will seat that valve andpermanently cut off the flow of fuel to the main burners until the weight has once more been lifted by another withdrawal of water from the tank. The parts are so proportioned that the number of opening and closing movements of the fuel valve is sufficient to maintain the water in the tank at the desired temperature for from thirty-six to forty-eight hours, so that any ordinary interval during which water is not withdrawnwill be within this range of continued action. But if a longer interval than this elapses, thefuel valve will be permanently closed until the system is once more put into active operation.

If any of the parts which control the move ment of the driving weight 22, should, by any mischance, fail t-o operate properly the valve 1 will, nevertheless, be closed whenever t-he temperature of the water rises above the predetermined point of thermostatic action-and the pawl 47 is thereby disengaged from the notch 40-by the weight of the valve and valve stem connections 1-2-11 etc. In order to render this action more'positive the gravity seated valve 1 is preferably provided with a heavy collar or washer' 58 that also serves to hold the face of the valve in close engagement with its seat when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cylinder 60, which contains the water actuated member 61, is open at its innerright `hand enchand projects through the wall 62 of the tank A, so as to expose the rear end. of

the piston 61 to the direct pressure of the liquid `in the tank. At the front end of the cylinder there is a port 63 which communicates with the pipe C leading to the house supply system. The stem 65 of the piston 61 projects through a stuffing box in the front cap of the cylinder-60 and terminates in a head 67 that is adapted to engage with a roller 68 on the end of a crank arm 69 secured to the shaft 7 O. At the opposite end of this shaft 70 there is a segmental gear plate 71 carrying a weight 7 2. The teeth of this segmental gear mesh with a pinion 73 on the end of a shaft 7 4; and to this shaft is also secured a ratchet wheel 75, the teeth of which engage with a pawl 76 mounted on a disc 77. `This latter disc is loose on the shaft 74 and carries at its outer side a crank pin 78 by means of which a reciprocating movement is given to the connectingv rod 7 9 leading to the stem 80 ofthe gas valve 31. The disc 77 is also provided with a notch 82 whiclr-in the position shown in the figure-is in engagement with the pawl end of the trip lever 83. This trip lever 83 is pivoted at 84 and engages at its opposite end with an adjustable nut on a rod 85, Whichis provided at its other end with a head87 bearing against the long end of the thermostat lever 88. On the opposite side of the disc 77 there is a second trip lever 89, which is provided at its short end with an adjustable screw adapted to engage With a stud 91 on the thermostat lever 88, and

- which is connected to the trip lever 83 vby the same, in general character, as that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and lVhenever wat-er is withdrawn through the pipe C, the pressure onthc front side of the piston 61 is reduced and the latterl will be forced forward 4by the tank pressure behind it until the stem 96 of the check valve 97 comes in contact with the front cap of the cylinder 60, thereby openingl the -check valve-which is normally held closed by the action of a leaf spring 98 and allows water to flow freely from the tank A through the rports99 to the frontend of the cylinder, and thence out through the pipe C. The forwardmotionof the piston G1 carries with it the stem 65, and the engagement of the head G7 on this stem with the roller 68 lifts the segmental gear 71 and with it the weight 72 to the position shown in the figures. During this movement the pawl'and crank pin disc 77 will remain atrest; and when the movement ceases the weight 72 will be held in its lifted position by the engagement of the pawl 76 with an opposing tooth on the ratchet wheel 7 5 g-the pawl disc 77 being itself held from rotation, by the trip lever 83, until the temperature of the liquid in the tank A has fallen to a point which will allow the spring to disengage the end of the said trip lever 83 from the notch-82. VThe disc 77 and the craul pin 78 will thereupon be revolved in a counter-clockwise direction by the weight 72, until the said disc has completed a little more than Aa half revolution, and the notch 82 has engaged with the pawl end of the trip lever 89. This movement of the disc and the crank pin lifts the gas valve 8 from its seat and brings the upper face thereof in contact with the washer 100, thus sealing the opening around the gas valve stem. Fuel will nowiiow through the gas valve casing- M from the supply pipe H to the feed pipe I vvwhich leads to the main burners of the heater. The gas valve will remain in its open position until the liquid in the ftank hasV expanded the thermostat member93 sufficiently to bring` the stud 91 in contact With the screw 90 and disengage the pawl of the trip lever 89 from the notch 82. The

pawl disc 77 and the crank pin 78 will theremined by the contact of the roller 68 with the plate G7-(see dotted line positionofFig, 5)- and the movement will then cease until the piston 61 has once more been moved forward by withdrawing more water from the tank A. As in the previous case the parts are so proportioned that, in the movement of the weight 72 from one extreme position to the other, the gas valve mechanism will be actuated an even number of times, so that the last movement of the said mechanism closes the fuel valve, and permanently shuts oif the iiow of gas to the heating burners. By properly proportioning` the length of the segmental gear 71 and the diameter of the pinion 73 thc number of such complete movements may be made suiiicient to keep the mechanism in operation long enough to bridge over any desired interval of time; but when that interval has elapsed the mechanism will be automatically thrown out of commission and all further consumption of fuel stopped. And in this case-as in the previous casewthe opening movement of the valve carries the crank pin 78 beyond the dead center position; and when the pawl 89 is disengaged from the notch 82, by the expansion of the thern'iostat, the valve will be moved toward its seat both by the action of the parts 71 to 78, and by its own weight; and the latter force is suliicient to ensure-the closing of the valve and the cutting oif of fuel from the main burners even if Vthe other actua ting elements (71 to 76) should cease to function.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate another form of my improved automatic control mechanism which is applicable to heaters of either the storage tank or the instantaneous type; but as here shown the parts are arranged with special reference to use on an instantaneous heater of the general character shown in Fig. 8- in which fuel is normally turned on and olf only when water is being drawn from the apparatus. In this mechanism cold water is led to the heater through a pipe B which enters the lower end of a chamber 10G that contains a small water wheel 107. The water flows out of this chamber through another pipe 108 which leads to the cold water inlet of the heater coil. The shaft of the water wheel 107 passes through a packed box on one side 'of the chamber 106 and carries at its outer end a pinion 109 which meshes with a gear 110, the hub of which carries theinner end of a clock spring 111. The outer free end of this spring is attached to a drum 112 carlill) opposite the pawl end of the trip rying a pawl 113 which engages with ratchet teeth on a crank disc 1114. The latter disc also has on its edgetwo notches 115 and 116 which are adapted to engagel respectively with the pawl ends ot trip levers 117 and 118 that are held against the edge of the disc by the co1nmon tension spring 119, The thermostat` in this construction is of the ordinary composite type comprising an outer expansion tube 120 of brass, copper, zinc or some other metal having a high coetlicentoi expansion, and an inner negative element 121 of iron, nickel steel, invar metal, or like substance having a low coefficient orl expansion. These thermostat parts are mounted in a thermostat tube 122 which is in communication at its` lower end with the outlet G, which lead-s from the lower end of the heating coil. The negative element 12() terminates in an adjustable knife edge contact 123 which bears upon the trip lever 117, and serves to move said trip lever to the lleft-thus disengaging it from the notch 115-when the temperature in the thermostat chamber 121 Jfalls below a certain point. The movement of: the other trip lever, 113, is eected-wlien the temperature rises and the contact edge 123 is lifted-#by means of a spring 124 acting upon a leverl125, and through it upon an adjustable nut and bolt connection 126, The disc 114 carries a crank pin 127 to which is attached one end ont the connecting rod 128; the other end oit this rod being attached to the stem 1,29 of the gas valve 130. ln this construction the gasv valve is provided with a spring 13 1 interposed bef tween it and thefrontcap ot the gas valve casing M, said spring serving to normally hold the gas valve against itsseat when itis not held open the^ control mechanism.

The operation ofthis mechanism is as :tollows: lNhcn the` flow oi vwater started through the heater the water wheel 107 will be revolved, winding up the clock spring 111 and thus placing the di'scv112 under a tension which tends to revolve itcounterclockwise.

Such revolution will be prevented by the engagement of the pawl end of the trip lever 117 with'the notch 115, unless the temperature of the water in the heater is so low as to throw this trip lever out ot engagement with the said notch-` But whenever these parts are disengaged the clock spring tension on the disc 112 will, through `the action of the pawl 113, immediately revolve the crank disc 114 in the direction of the arrow `(Fig. 6) thus opening -the gas valve 136 against the tension of the spring 131. The rotation of the crank disc will continue until the notch 116 comes lever 113- the latter being too `wide to enter the notch 1 15-and the motion of the crank disc will then be arrested, lthereby holding the gas valve in its open position. This gas valve now remains open until the temperature of the liquidin the thermostat chamber reaches a the trip lever 118 from the notch`116. The

crank pin disc 114 Will thereupon be revolved again through something less than onehali of a revolution-pr until the notch 115 has been reengaged by the pawl end of the trip lever 117-thereby again closing the gas valve 131. In this construction the movements of the gas valve-as controlled by the action of the above described mechanism-will continue only so long as water continues to ilow through the heater, because the clock spring, which i-s wound up by the movement of the water wheel 107, is held under tension only as long as the blades of the said wheel are subjected to the kinetic pressure ot the flowing liquid; and as soon as this flow ceases the rotor 107 will be permitted to revolve backward, or in a contra-clockwise direction, and the spring 111 will unwind, thereby relieving the tension on the disc 112 and the pawl 113. But if it should happen that the water was shut oil when the gas valve 130 was still open, this valve would, nevertheless be closed, as soon as the temperature ot the liquid in the thermostat chamber had reached the predetermined point, by the action ot the spring 131 alone. For when the gas valve is open, the crank pin 127 is moved past its dead center position-as indicated by the dotted line position of the said pin-and, in consequence of this, the parts 114-127--128-129--- and 130' can be immediately restored to the normal full line positions, by the tension of the spring 131, as soon as the pawl end of the tripV lever 118 has been lifted out of engagement with the notch 116, by the expansion of the thermostat p arts. This insures theclosure of the Gas Valve at all times when the water is cut oh from the heater as soon as the liquid remaining therein has been raised to the temperature for which the thermostat is set to act.

The last described mechanism can be easily adapted for use on storage tank heaters b v increasing the number oit turns in the spiral spring 111 and adding a pawl 132, which engages with'the teeth of the Wheel 11G-as shown in Fig. 9-'-and prevents the unwind ing oi' the said spring when the flow ot water is stopped. The energy which is stored up in the coiled spring 111-by the rotation oi the flow driven motor 107--then remains available or the subsequent opening and closing of the gas valve, after the flow of water is stopped, and the liquid in the heater system is successively cooled below or hea-ted above the desired temperature. When thus used for the control ot storage tank conditions the organization shown inligs. 6, 7 and 9 may be placed underneath the tank, at the side of the cold water supply pipe 8, with the thermostatftube 120 secured to, and projectp the. latter is provided ing vertically kupward through, the bottom wall of the tank (as indicated by dotted lines at L, Fig. 1) or it maybe mounted horizontally at one end of the tank, with the said thermostat tubevinserted in the vertical wall thereof, in the position occupied by the corresponding parts AL-53 (Figs. 1 and 3). If positioned as last described the motor chamber of the device is preferably connected to a hot water outlet 1 33-which corresponds to the outlet 29 of Figs. 1 and 3-and theV rotor element 107a is then preferably made in theform of a radial flow turbine with the central discharge opening therefor connected to the base of the house service pipe C;*the general construction and arrangement of these modified parts being indicated in Fig. 10.

In Fig. 11 I have illustrated another structural modification of the mechanisms shown in Figs. 6, 7, 9 and 10 ;-this final embodiment of my improvementsbeing also primarily designed for use with storage tank systems. In this case the water motor 1071 is similar to that shown in Fig. 10; and this motor is mounted on a shaft 134 which passes through thefront wall of the chamber 1061 and terminates in a worm 135 that engages with the peripheral teeth on the gear 1101. The hub of this gear is attached to one end of` a clock spring which is enclosed in, and connected to, a drum 1121;` and this drum carries' a pawl 1131` that 'engages with ratchet teeth on the edge of a crank disc 1141; all

vof these parts being substantially identical in construction with the correspondingly designated elements of Figs. 6, 7 and 9; The

'disc 1141 is operatively conjoined-by the crank pin 1271 and the connecting rod 1281- with the stem .1291 ofv a gas valve, which is positioned in a casing M andfwhich serves to control the flowV of fuel'fromthe pipe H to thepipe Ig-the `form and arrangement 1 of these' members 'being also substantially the same as are shown in Fig. 6. rlChe disc 1141 1s, 1n this case, provided with a lug 136 wh1ch 1s adapted to engage successively--as s the disc revolveswith the lower extremities 1171 and 1181 of a V-shaped lever 137; and with a short upwardly extendingl arm. 138 which engagesvwith a threaded stud 139 on the outer end of a vapor thermostat kmember L1. This thermostat ycon'iprises va rigid cell-140 that is immersed v inthe tank A, and a flexible sylphontrminal 141 g-#th'ese parts being hermetically sealed [together and partially filled with a .volatileliquid that boils at a somewhat lower temperature than that which is to be Vmaintained in the tank. The threaded stud 13,9, isalso engaged b y an adjustable com pression spring 142, which resists the expan- I of V'the thermostat, and the resultant counterclockwise movement of the V-shaped lever 137 on its pivotal support.

All of the parts of this structure are (like the other illustrative constructions previously described) mounted on, or formed as an integral part of, a flanged support K that can be bolted to the tank A in any desired position. As here shown the mechanism is mounted on the side of the tank, with the inlet to the water motor chamber 1061 connected to the hot water riser O, and the outlet therefrom opening directly into the reservoir at the point P;-the thermostatic element 140, then occupying the dotted line position L1 indicated in Fig. 1. With this arrangement of parts, the cold water supply pipe, B, should be connected to the header G at the lower end of the return pipe N, (as indicated in dotted lines B', Fig. 1) and the latter conduit is preferably provided with a downwardly opening check valve, that will prevent any upward flow, through this pipe, to the tank A. Under such circumstances the operation is as follows: lVhen a tap in the house service pipe C is opened, the water which flows into the tank-to replace that which escapes through the opened tappasses through the riser O and the motor chamber 1061 to the inlet P; and the movement of the flow driven turbine 1071 rotates the gear 1101, in a counterclockwise direction, thereby winding up the clock spring in the drum 1121;the latter being held against revolving by the pawl 1131 and the engagement of the lug 136 withone of the lever ends 1171 or 1181and the member 1101 being prevented from reverse rotation, when the motor 1071 stops, by the self locking action of the worm wheel elements 135-1101. The energy thus stored up in the coiled clock spring imposes a rotative tension on the crank disc 1141; and whenever the latch 1171 is disengaged from the lug 136 by a fall in temperature, and a resultant contraction of the thermostat-or the latch 118" is reversely disengaged from the said lug by the rise in temperature and the accompanying expanheated water through thecirculation system N, G, D, F, O, when the gas is turned on; and the time during which the power thus developed is stored up, and remains available for the automatic control of the fuel supply to the heater D` may be increased to any desired period. But in this case, as before, the stop latch (1181), which holds the valve in its open position, is so located as to arrest the movement of the crank disc 114" after the pin 127b has passed its right hand dead center poistion (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11)

and when this latch is disengagedthe valve' will bereturned to its seat by the spring 131 (see Fig. 6) even if the energy in the power storage drum 110) has been exhausted; so that no overheating can take place in case of a failure ofthe motor, and motor driven parts, to function or continue in operation indefinitely.

The various structural and operative characteristics of my invention will now be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art to which it appertains; and, with the preceding illustrative exemplifications of my improvements as a guide, engineers and manufacturers will be enabled to utilize this invention-in whole or in part as may be desired-in many other alternative and equiv# alent forms of construction in which it may be advantageously employed.

lVhat I claim is: e

1. The herein described improvement in the art of heating fluid which comprises, the generationand storage of power by the flow of the said fluid through the heater, and the automatic regulation of the temperature thereof thel utilization of the stored power to vary the heat applied thereto whenever the said temperature reaches a predetermined point, substantially as described.

2. The herein described improvement in the art of heating fluid in a closed syst-em which consists in generating and storing' power by the flow of fluid through the system, and then utilizing this stored power to regulate the supply of heat thereto in accordance with the variations in temperature therein, substantially as described.

3. A combination of the character described which comprises a water heater` a motor actuated by the flow of liquid therethrough, a power storage device operatively connected to the said motor, a fuel valve, mechanism conjoining said valve with the said power storage device, means for normally preventing any movement of the said valve by the action of the said mechanism, and other means for releasing said valve and permitting it to be moved by the stored power when the water in the said heater has reached a predetermined temperature.

4. A combination of the character described which comprises a heating receptacle, a valve for controlling the supply of' heat thereto, a motor actuated by the flow of fluid through said receptacle, a power storage device adapted to be charged by the said motor, mechanism for operatively connecting said power storage device to the said control valve, means for locking said connective mechanism against movement, and other means for unlocking said mechanism when the fluid in the said receptacle has attained a predetermined temperature.

5. In a water heater the'combination of a reservoir, a thermostat mounted therein, a motor actuated by the flow of water therethrough, a power storage device operatively connected to the said motor, a valvefor regulating the supply of heat to the said reservoir, a mechanism conjoining said valve with said power storage device, a locking device for said mechanism, and means actuated by the said thermostat for disengaging said locking device and permitting the said 'alve to'bo moved by the stored power when the water in the said receptacle has attained a predetermined temperature.

(l.l In a water heater t-he combination of a h ating receptacle, a valve for controlling the supply of heat thereto, a motor actuated by the flow of liquid therethrough, means for converting the kinetic energy of said motor into potential energy, means for opening the said valve by the release of the said potential energy when the water in the receptacle falls below a predetermined temperature, and other complementary means for closing said valve when the said temperature is raised.

7. In a heating apparatus of the class described, the combination of a fluid containing re ept-acle, a valve for regulating the supply of heat thereto, a motor actuated by the flow of fluid therethrough, an accumulator device for the storage of the energy developed by the said motor, means connecting the said accumulator with the said valve, a locking device for the said connective means, a thermostat immersed in the fluid in the said receptacle, means conjoining the said thermostat with the said locking device and actino' to disconnect the latter when the said fluid reaches a predetermined temperature, and means for closing the said valve when thsaid locking device has been disconnected.

8. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a heating receptacle, a flow operated device for the generation and storage of power, means for regulating the supply of heat to the said receptacle, operative instrumentalities conjoining the said heat regulating means with the said power storage device, thermostatically actuated mechanism for controlling the operation of the said instrumentalities, and means for cutting olf the supply of heat from the receptacle when the power storage device becomes inoperative.

9. 1n an apparatus of the character de scribed the combination of a heating receptacle, a valve for controlling the supply of heat thereto, means for normally holding the said valve in its closed position, a flow actuated motor, a power storage device adapted to he energized by the said motor, mechanism connecting the said storage device with the said valve, a lock for normally holding the said connective mechanism against movement, a thermostat, and means conjoining Huid through the heater, means for opening the said valve against the said resisting means by the action of the stored power when the temperature in the heater falls below a predetermined point, a latch for holding the valve in its opened position, and thermostatically actuated instrumentalities for disengaging the said latch and permitting the said Valve to be closed when the said temperature rises above another predetermined value.

, 1l. In a water heater the combination of a heating receptacle, a valve for controlling the supply of heat thereto, a power storage device adapted to be charged by the flow of Water, means for utilizing the stored power to open the said valve when the water is below a predetermined temperature, and other means for closing the said valve when the said temperature rises above anothe predetermined value.

12. vIn an apparatus of the class described the combination of a heating receptacle, a valve for regulating the supply of heat there` to, a motor actuated by the flow of fluid therethrough, a power accumulator interposed between the said motor and the said valve, means operable by the said accumulator to move the said valve when the temperature in the heater varies within predetermined limits, and other means operatingindependently of said accumulator to close the valve at the upper limit of said temperature variation.

13. vIn an apparatus' of the class described the combination of a heatingreceptacle, a valve for controlling the supply of heat thereto, a motor actuated by the flow ot fluid therethrough, a spring interposed between the said motor and the said valve, a thermostat, means operable by the said thermostat for locking the valve against the action of the saidspring when the temperature of the said luid is within predetermined limits and for unlocking it when these limits are exceeded. 14. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a heater, a valve for controlli/ng the supply of heat thereto, a flow actuated motor, a spiral spring operatively c'onnected at its opposite ends to the said motor and to the said valve, a thermostat, me-ansoperable by the said thermostat to hold the valve against movement within a fixed range of temperature variation and to release it when said range is exceeded, and other means for closing the valve when so released at the upper limit of temperature.

K 15. In a water heater the combination of a storage tank, a heating element there'lor, a valve for controlling the supply of heat thereto, a motor element interposed in the flow of water through the said 'tank and the said heating element, an energy accumulator operatively connected to the said motor, means for moving the said valve by the action of the said accumulator when the water in the said tank reaches predetermined temperatures, and means for locking the said valve against movement at other times.

16. In a water heater the combination ot a storage tank, a heat-ing element therefor. a valve for controlling the supply ot heat thereto, a motor actuated by the flow of liquid through the heater, a power storage device adapted to be charged by the said motor, an operating mechanism conjoining the said power storage device with the said vzlve` locking instrumentalities for .holding the said mechanism against movement, a thermoslat mounted in the said tank, means operable by the said thermostat for releasing the said lockinginstrumentalitics when the water iu the tank reaches predetermined temperatures, and means tor closing the said valve independently ot' the action of the said power storage device when the said locking instrumentalities are thus released.

17. A combination of the character dcscribed which comprises a fluid heater, a power storage device adapted to be energized bythe iiow of fluid through said heater` a fuel valve, means connecting said power storage device to said valve, a thermostat and means actuated by said thermostat for utilizing said power storage device to open and close said valve so as to regulate the temperature of the fluid.

In testimony whereoi` I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK L. O. IVADSIVORTH. 

